Feast of Saint Silverius (Patron Saint of Ponza)
The land and sea procession for the patron saint of sailors, amidst red carnations and fireworks
About Feast of Saint Silverius
A festival that defines an island's identity
The Feast of Saint Silverius is much more than a patronal festival: it is the day when the entire community of Ponza, in the municipality of the same name in the province of Latina (Lazio), unites in a single devotion. Pope Silverius, deposed and exiled in the 6th century to the nearby island of Palmarola, became over the centuries the protector of fishermen and sailors of the Pontine archipelago. For the people of Ponza, June 20th is "a day unlike any other": they celebrate it in Ponza, as well as in the emigrant communities in New York, South America, and Australia, who gather on this date to honor the saint's name.
The land and sea procession
The heart of the festival is the procession that, immediately following the morning Eucharistic concelebration, leaves the mother church and traverses the port streets. Then comes the moment that makes this celebration unique: the statue is loaded onto a motorboat completely covered in red carnations and taken out to sea, while hundreds of local boats, packed with people, fill the bay and proceed slowly, parallel to the land procession. Today, the route passes by the New Pier (Molo Nuovo) to bring Saint Silverius as close as possible to the vessels. Upon returning to the church square, the traditional distribution of carnations takes place: every family returns home with a flower from the saint.
Novena, Diana, and the eve
The festivities do not end in a single day. From the beginning of June, the patron's statue visits the various areas of the island in turn, from the Port to Le Forna, while the evening novena is held from June 9th to 19th. On the night of June 9th, the banner arrives by sea at the beach of Santa Maria aboard a motorboat, in an evocative midnight procession. On June 20th, the day opens at 6 AM with the Diana: bells ringing, firecrackers, and the notes of the Isola di Ponza Band traveling through the still-sleeping streets.
The secular side: music, games, and fireworks
- Traditional games on Sant'Antonio beach, including the historic greasy pole contest;
- Musical evenings on Banchina Mamozio, the festival's natural stage overlooking the port;
- Fireworks display just after midnight on June 20th, illuminating the entire bay and traditionally watched from boats offshore;
- Saint Silverius Lottery, the draw of which officially closes the festivities.
When to go and what to expect
Ponza in June is already full summer but not yet at the peak of the August crowds: the festival is therefore one of the best opportunities to experience the island in its most authentic dimension, when the town is lived primarily by residents and those who have returned for the occasion. Visitors arriving during these days will find an island where popular religion, maritime culture, and conviviality blend seamlessly: liturgy and the sea in the morning, concerts and local cuisine in the evening—featuring fish soup, fava beans and chicory, rabbit 'alla ponzese', and the island's terraced wine.
A tradition that adapts to the sea
The devotion to Saint Silverius also tells the story of the island's economy. In the second half of the last century, the inhabitants of Le Forna moved their local celebration to the last Sunday of February: this allowed fishermen who worked in Sardinia and Tunisia from March to September to honor the patron saint before leaving for the long fishing season. A small detail that explains better than any speech how deeply this festival is tied to the sea and those who live upon it.
Feast of Saint Silverius — edition 2026
An edition marked by the return of the statue
The 2026 festival had a special prelude: on June 3rd, the statue of Saint Silverius returned to Ponza after six months of restoration, welcomed at Molo Santa Lucia around 5 PM and then blessed during the Mass presided over by Archbishop Luigi Vari, who also administered confirmations. The following day, the pilgrimage to Palmarola "In the footsteps of Saint Silverius for Peace" took place, departing at 10 AM.
The two weeks of preparation
From June 5th to 18th, the statue visited the various areas of the island in turn. On June 9th, at 10:30 PM, Mass was held at the church of San Giuseppe, and at midnight, the banner arrived at Santa Maria beach aboard the motorboat Fauno. On June 17th, at 7:15 PM in the mother church, the poetry recital by Gino Usai "If Heaven destines you" was held. On June 18th, the Isola di Ponza Band toured at 6 PM, the motor vessel Giraglia arrived from the Island of Elba at 7 PM, and a musical evening with Maddy & Benny took place at 10 PM. On June 19th, traditional games at 4 PM on Sant'Antonio beach, the band in Le Forna at 5 PM, the novena at 6 PM in the Port church, and at 10 PM an evening with the group Bevitori Longevi.
June 20th and 21st
Saturday, June 20th, featured the 6 AM Diana, the 10:30 AM concelebration, and the procession with the statue embarked on the motorboat San Giuseppe. In the evening, on Banchina Mamozio, the show Comici per missione at 9 PM, the Bottari Dance concert at 10 PM, and fireworks just after midnight. Sunday, June 21st, at 9 PM, the concert by the tribute band Re Queen, followed by the draw of the 2026 Saint Silverius Lottery.
Programme Feast of Saint Silverius 2026
Wednesday, June 3
- approx. 5 PM — Molo Santa Lucia: arrival of the Saint Silverius statue after six months of restoration
- Blessing and Mass with confirmations presided over by Archbishop Luigi Vari
Thursday, June 4
- 10 AM — Departure of the pilgrimage to Palmarola "In the footsteps of Saint Silverius for Peace"
June 5 to 18
- Tour of the patron's statue in the various areas of the island
Tuesday, June 9
- 10:30 PM — Church of San Giuseppe: Holy Mass
- Midnight — Santa Maria beach: arrival of the banner aboard the motorboat Fauno
Wednesday, June 17
- 7:15 PM — Mother church: poetry recital "If Heaven destines you", by Gino Usai
Thursday, June 18
- 6 PM — Tour of the Isola di Ponza Band
- 7 PM — Arrival of the motor vessel Giraglia from the Island of Elba
- 10 PM — Musical evening with Maddy & Benny
Friday, June 19
- 4 PM — Sant'Antonio beach: Saint Silverius traditional games
- 5 PM — Le Forna: performance by the Band
- 6 PM — Port church: novena and Holy Mass
- 10 PM — Banchina Mamozio: musical evening with the group Bevitori Longevi
Saturday, June 20 — Patron's Day
- 6 AM — Diana: ringing of bells, fireworks, and notes of the Band
- 10:30 AM — Solemn Eucharistic concelebration
- Following — Procession with the statue through the island's streets and at sea on the motorboat San Giuseppe, amidst red carnations and hundreds of boats
- 9 PM — Banchina Mamozio: show "Comici per missione"
- 10 PM — Banchina Mamozio: Bottari Dance concert
- just after midnight — Fireworks display over the gulf
Sunday, June 21
- 9 PM — Banchina Mamozio: concert by the tribute band Re Queen
- At the end of the concert — Draw of the 2026 Saint Silverius Lottery
Highlights Feast of Saint Silverius 2026
- The return of the restored statue on June 3rd, welcomed at Molo Santa Lucia and blessed by Archbishop Luigi Vari
- The sea procession on June 20th on the motorboat San Giuseppe, amidst red carnations and hundreds of boats
- The 6 AM Diana, with bells, firecrackers, and the band through the port streets
- The midnight fireworks over the bay of Ponza
- The Re Queen concert, a tribute band dedicated to Freddie Mercury, on June 21st on Banchina Mamozio
Prices Feast of Saint Silverius 2026
Practical information — Feast of Saint Silverius
Getting there
Ponza can only be reached by sea. Main connections depart from Formia (hydrofoil approx. 1h15, ferry approx. 2h30), Terracina, Anzio, and San Felice Circeo; additional services run in summer. Formia is served by the Rome-Naples railway line. During the festival days, services are particularly crowded: booking well in advance is essential.
Getting around the island
The port center, the mother church, and Banchina Mamozio are easily reached on foot. For Le Forna and other districts, there are local microbuses and shared taxis. Car traffic for non-residents is restricted during the summer months.
Costs
Religious celebrations, the procession, concerts on Banchina Mamozio, and the fireworks display are free and held outdoors. Only the Saint Silverius Lottery tickets require payment.
Tips
To see the sea procession, it is advisable to board one of the boats participating in the parade or find a spot on the New Pier (Molo Nuovo) well in advance. The midnight fireworks are best enjoyed from the port or from the water. Accommodation should be booked months in advance: on June 20th, the island is fully booked.
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Where does it take place — Feast of Saint Silverius
Chiesa dei Santi Silverio e Domitilla e Banchina Mamozio
Piazza Carlo Pisacane 9, 04027 Ponza